Saddam half brothers acquitted in Kurd atrocities

BAGHDAD 
An Iraqi court has found two of Saddam Hussein's half brothers not guilty in 1980s-era atrocities that the dictator led against Faili Kurds during the Iran-Iraq war.

Iraqi High Tribunal spokesman Mohammed Abdul-Sahib says the court was also considering on Monday a verdict against Tariq Aziz in the fourth set of charges against Saddam's former top diplomat.

Aziz and Saddam's half brothers - Sabawi Ibrhim al-Hassan and Watban Ibrhim - were charged with participating in Saddam's deadly campaign against the small sect of ethnic Kurds who follow the Shiite branch of Islam.

Aziz already faces execution in an earlier case linking him to Saddam's persecution of Shiite political parties.